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First Blood, Last Girl: A Slasher Novel
Cassandra is a seventeen-year-old camp counselor when the unthinkable happens. A vicious and deformed man storms through camp one night, massacring kids and counselors. Cassandra manages to kill the madman. Or so she thinks.
Something passes from the killer to Cassandra during the massacre. Something that can’t be measured or seen or even sensed. She is changed … for the worse.
She has memories that aren’t hers. She knows things she shouldn’t. And she’s getting closer to the truth about the massacre.
But someone very powerful and utterly insane can’t let her uncover the truth. He wants her dead. By any means necessary.
As she’s targeted by this mysterious figure who seems to have serial killers at his beck and call, Cassandra’s life turns into a frantic fight for survival. When her friends and family come under attack, she’s the only one who can save them.
If she can make use of what she inadvertently took from the Camp Henderson killer, she might survive to see eighteen.
First Blood, Last Girl by Matthew Doggett is a brutal slasher novel about perseverance, family, morality, and pain. Perfect for slasher and horror fans everywhere.
Something passes from the killer to Cassandra during the massacre. Something that can’t be measured or seen or even sensed. She is changed … for the worse.
She has memories that aren’t hers. She knows things she shouldn’t. And she’s getting closer to the truth about the massacre.
But someone very powerful and utterly insane can’t let her uncover the truth. He wants her dead. By any means necessary.
As she’s targeted by this mysterious figure who seems to have serial killers at his beck and call, Cassandra’s life turns into a frantic fight for survival. When her friends and family come under attack, she’s the only one who can save them.
If she can make use of what she inadvertently took from the Camp Henderson killer, she might survive to see eighteen.
First Blood, Last Girl by Matthew Doggett is a brutal slasher novel about perseverance, family, morality, and pain. Perfect for slasher and horror fans everywhere.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2026
About the author
Matthew Doggett
85 books59 followersMatthew Doggett writes in the thriller and horror genres, penning tales about unlikely heroes and blood-curdling monsters.
He's the author of seventeen novels, three novellas, and over 200 published short stories. He's also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. You can find his work featured on the Dr. NoSleep podcast and the SCP Experience podcast.
Despite the recent rise in AI-based writing tools some authors are using to "write" their stories, all of Matthew's books and stories are written entirely by him. He does not use AI tools to assist his writing, and has no plans to do so in the future.
He's currently living in the American South, working on his next novel.
He's the author of seventeen novels, three novellas, and over 200 published short stories. He's also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. You can find his work featured on the Dr. NoSleep podcast and the SCP Experience podcast.
Despite the recent rise in AI-based writing tools some authors are using to "write" their stories, all of Matthew's books and stories are written entirely by him. He does not use AI tools to assist his writing, and has no plans to do so in the future.
He's currently living in the American South, working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brutal, graphic, and action-packed, Matt Doggett's novel takes the final girl trope, and uses it as the first step for a horrifying and blood-soaked story of body horror, mass slaughter, and paranormal mayhem! In fact, branding the book as just another slasher would be an understatement: so many surprising plot twists in this one, from the totally unexpected and appaling big picture driving the story forward, moving it far beyond a typical serial killer tale, to the unusually complicated main character, Cassie, who's facing troubles on both the mental and the physical level (phobias, traumas, past injuries). The cast is large, the pacing relentless, and the writing often cinematic and detailed (though, to be honest, not always as simple and straightforward as the situation demands!).
The opening scene requires strong nerves (thankfully, not everything is shown on the page). It's unapologetically violent, introducing the Grinning Man, a serial killer-type of inhuman monstrosity, who finds relief and pleasure in killing. A few pages later, this unhinged killing machine reaches a camp where a whole lot of kids and teens spend the summer - Cassie, a seventeen year old counselor, and her teenage friends among them. What follows is hell on earth for the poor kids, with Cassie ending up as a final girl, though she's not the massacre's only survivor. However, all this is pretty much the groundwork for the real story waiting to begin!
If you can handle gore and violence, as well as spending a lot of time in the mind of a troubled teen girl (perhaps that's even worse than the gore lol), then you're gonna love the book. It helps itself to the best elements of the slasher trope, and ramps them up until they break the traditional mold! Recommended!
The opening scene requires strong nerves (thankfully, not everything is shown on the page). It's unapologetically violent, introducing the Grinning Man, a serial killer-type of inhuman monstrosity, who finds relief and pleasure in killing. A few pages later, this unhinged killing machine reaches a camp where a whole lot of kids and teens spend the summer - Cassie, a seventeen year old counselor, and her teenage friends among them. What follows is hell on earth for the poor kids, with Cassie ending up as a final girl, though she's not the massacre's only survivor. However, all this is pretty much the groundwork for the real story waiting to begin!
If you can handle gore and violence, as well as spending a lot of time in the mind of a troubled teen girl (perhaps that's even worse than the gore lol), then you're gonna love the book. It helps itself to the best elements of the slasher trope, and ramps them up until they break the traditional mold! Recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a slasher but with a slightly different take on the genre. First off, the starting chapters play out like the final scene of a movie. The action ramps up immediately and we are introduced to the horrific killer called The Grinning Man...
Cassie is a 17-yr-old survivor. The final girl. And we follow her as she tries to move on and put the horror behind her. But the trauma has her in therapy and we soon wonder if it's really over as the hand of Lady luck does nothing but give her the finger time and time again, as the danger is far from over.
This started as a traditional slasher and evolved into something much more. It's creepy and terrifying but also original without losing the bloodsplatters or deep DNA that makes this trope so great!
This is a good solid book and well worth a read. Just don't do it alone.
Cassie is a 17-yr-old survivor. The final girl. And we follow her as she tries to move on and put the horror behind her. But the trauma has her in therapy and we soon wonder if it's really over as the hand of Lady luck does nothing but give her the finger time and time again, as the danger is far from over.
This started as a traditional slasher and evolved into something much more. It's creepy and terrifying but also original without losing the bloodsplatters or deep DNA that makes this trope so great!
This is a good solid book and well worth a read. Just don't do it alone.
August 20, 2026
What a book! From the first chapter to the last sentence, this book had me in a chokehold! The imagery created, from the scenery to the attacks, the crazed killers to each death, everything was amazingly well described. I would love to see this turned into a movie because the one I watched in my head as I read this was one wild ride! If you like horror, especially slashers, this is an AMAZING read. 5 stars all day long.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this one completely blind. I saw the word slasher and immediately said, “Say no more.”
And bloody hell, this was amazing.
The action starts immediately, with the very first chapter introducing us to the Grinning Man as he brutally murders an entire family. From that moment on, I was completely hooked.
I kept telling myself, just one more chapter and then I’ll pick it up again tomorrow. But every chapter ended in a way that made putting it down physically impossible. I read way past my bedtime (which I haven’t done for a book in a very long time) and eventually gave up pretending I was going to sleep and finished the whole thing in one sitting.
We mainly follow Cassy, a 17-year-old camp counsellor who was struck by lightning while swimming a few years earlier. Ever since, she has been terrified of feeling pain again, so she avoids anything that might hurt her.
When she comes face-to-face with the Grinning Man, her first instinct is to run. But after a brutal massacre, Cassy finally finds the courage to fight back and kills him. Not before he manages to grab her, though…
In most slashers, that would be the ending. But here? It happens within the first few chapters.
I genuinely couldn’t work out what could possibly happen next. Obviously, I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but poor Cassy cannot catch a single bloody break. Just days after surviving one massacre, she finds herself facing not one, not two, but THREE more slashers - as well as the people controlling them. Now she has to find the strength to fight back, defeat them and protect her family.
A little warning: do not get attached to anyone. Seriously. Nobody is safe, and the body count is absolutely feral.
This has officially become one of my all-time favourite slashers. I loved everything about it. The storyline felt fresh and completely unique, the characters were brilliant, the killers were genuinely terrifying, and that ending was messed up in the best possible way.
If you love fast-paced, blood-soaked slashers that refuse to let you breathe, make sure you grab this one on pub day.
And bloody hell, this was amazing.
The action starts immediately, with the very first chapter introducing us to the Grinning Man as he brutally murders an entire family. From that moment on, I was completely hooked.
I kept telling myself, just one more chapter and then I’ll pick it up again tomorrow. But every chapter ended in a way that made putting it down physically impossible. I read way past my bedtime (which I haven’t done for a book in a very long time) and eventually gave up pretending I was going to sleep and finished the whole thing in one sitting.
We mainly follow Cassy, a 17-year-old camp counsellor who was struck by lightning while swimming a few years earlier. Ever since, she has been terrified of feeling pain again, so she avoids anything that might hurt her.
When she comes face-to-face with the Grinning Man, her first instinct is to run. But after a brutal massacre, Cassy finally finds the courage to fight back and kills him. Not before he manages to grab her, though…
In most slashers, that would be the ending. But here? It happens within the first few chapters.
I genuinely couldn’t work out what could possibly happen next. Obviously, I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but poor Cassy cannot catch a single bloody break. Just days after surviving one massacre, she finds herself facing not one, not two, but THREE more slashers - as well as the people controlling them. Now she has to find the strength to fight back, defeat them and protect her family.
A little warning: do not get attached to anyone. Seriously. Nobody is safe, and the body count is absolutely feral.
This has officially become one of my all-time favourite slashers. I loved everything about it. The storyline felt fresh and completely unique, the characters were brilliant, the killers were genuinely terrifying, and that ending was messed up in the best possible way.
If you love fast-paced, blood-soaked slashers that refuse to let you breathe, make sure you grab this one on pub day.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Temporary DNF at 67%.
I received an advance copy directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is an incredibly frustrating DNF because I genuinely enjoy the story underneath the writing. The premise is interesting, the gore is effective, and I still want to know what happens. The story itself is what kept me reading this long—I even continued for another 7% after first considering putting it down.
Unfortunately, the prose repeatedly pulled me out of scenes just as I became immersed in them. Actions, physical movements, character reactions, and motivations are often explained long after the reader can already understand what is happening. Suspenseful moments regularly pause to describe exactly how someone moved, why they reacted, or what the scene is supposed to mean. There are also occasional formal or unusually elaborate word choices that feel out of place beside the otherwise straightforward narration. They seem intended to add weight, but instead they draw attention to the wording and interrupt the scene.
Some character reactions also felt unconvincing to me because the narration explained them so thoroughly without making me feel them. During moments of extreme danger, I sometimes found myself analyzing the writing or questioning the characters’ behavior instead of worrying about what would happen next.
I eventually realized that I wanted to know the rest of the story, but I no longer wanted to read the book to find out. That is usually my sign that I need to stop forcing myself.
This is a temporary DNF, and I may return to it later. If I finish, I will update my review and rating based on the complete story. As it stands, though, I cannot justify three stars for my reading experience. The difficult part is that with tighter line editing—less overexplaining, more trust in the reader, and more consistent wording—I honestly think this could have been a four- or even five-star read for me.
I received an advance copy directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is an incredibly frustrating DNF because I genuinely enjoy the story underneath the writing. The premise is interesting, the gore is effective, and I still want to know what happens. The story itself is what kept me reading this long—I even continued for another 7% after first considering putting it down.
Unfortunately, the prose repeatedly pulled me out of scenes just as I became immersed in them. Actions, physical movements, character reactions, and motivations are often explained long after the reader can already understand what is happening. Suspenseful moments regularly pause to describe exactly how someone moved, why they reacted, or what the scene is supposed to mean. There are also occasional formal or unusually elaborate word choices that feel out of place beside the otherwise straightforward narration. They seem intended to add weight, but instead they draw attention to the wording and interrupt the scene.
Some character reactions also felt unconvincing to me because the narration explained them so thoroughly without making me feel them. During moments of extreme danger, I sometimes found myself analyzing the writing or questioning the characters’ behavior instead of worrying about what would happen next.
I eventually realized that I wanted to know the rest of the story, but I no longer wanted to read the book to find out. That is usually my sign that I need to stop forcing myself.
This is a temporary DNF, and I may return to it later. If I finish, I will update my review and rating based on the complete story. As it stands, though, I cannot justify three stars for my reading experience. The difficult part is that with tighter line editing—less overexplaining, more trust in the reader, and more consistent wording—I honestly think this could have been a four- or even five-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**Thank you to the author for an advanced copy and these opinions are my own**
It seems the slasher genre is making a huge comeback, but most of them have left me wanting more. Not this book, it was a true slasher that immediately made me reminiscent of the 80s slasher movies I grew up watching and gave me a love for the genre.
This book had such a strong start and did not let me go. There was so much going on throughout the entire story with very little pause in the action. This book definitely has a lot of gore, which I loved! However, it was also a bit different than your typical slasher as it has a supernatural element as well. I don’t want to give anything away so I’m just gonna say you gotta read this one for yourself! That final reveal was chef’s kiss!
There was just one little thing that made me laugh as it reminded me of the Friends episode where Joey writes an adoption letter for Monica and Chandler and uses a thesaurus to make himself sound smarter. While this was nowhere to that level there were a few words that made me think of that scene as they just didn’t seem as natural to the story and sounded like the author was trying to use more intelligent language or just not be repetitive. Definitely not a deal breaker though and highly recommend checking this story out!
It seems the slasher genre is making a huge comeback, but most of them have left me wanting more. Not this book, it was a true slasher that immediately made me reminiscent of the 80s slasher movies I grew up watching and gave me a love for the genre.
This book had such a strong start and did not let me go. There was so much going on throughout the entire story with very little pause in the action. This book definitely has a lot of gore, which I loved! However, it was also a bit different than your typical slasher as it has a supernatural element as well. I don’t want to give anything away so I’m just gonna say you gotta read this one for yourself! That final reveal was chef’s kiss!
There was just one little thing that made me laugh as it reminded me of the Friends episode where Joey writes an adoption letter for Monica and Chandler and uses a thesaurus to make himself sound smarter. While this was nowhere to that level there were a few words that made me think of that scene as they just didn’t seem as natural to the story and sounded like the author was trying to use more intelligent language or just not be repetitive. Definitely not a deal breaker though and highly recommend checking this story out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Thank you to the author, Matthew Doggett, for the opportunity to get the ARC of “First Blood, Final Girl.”
This is a slasher/final girl novel cranked to 10 and pumped full of steroids. It is tense, it is depraved, and it is chocked full of gore from the very first page.
The story follows Cassandra, a camp counselor with an extreme aversion to experiencing pain of any kind. It only stands to reason then that she finds herself in the throes of a violent, sadistic masked murdered aptly named “The Grinning Man.” What follows is her harrowing, violent journey as she struggles with who she is and protecting the ones she loves. Her internal and external battles kept me fully invested in her well-being. If it weren’t for bad luck, poor Cassandra would have absolutely no luck at all. Honestly, she might have been better off with no luck. By the end, her journey and The Grinning Man had me doing everything EXCEPT grinning.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story although there were some places where I felt some things could be explained better or had been over explained and that kinda threw a hitch in my flow but it wasn’t significant enough for me to feel it should impact my overall opinion of the story. Solid 4.5/5.
Thank you to the author, Matthew Doggett, for the opportunity to get the ARC of “First Blood, Final Girl.”
This is a slasher/final girl novel cranked to 10 and pumped full of steroids. It is tense, it is depraved, and it is chocked full of gore from the very first page.
The story follows Cassandra, a camp counselor with an extreme aversion to experiencing pain of any kind. It only stands to reason then that she finds herself in the throes of a violent, sadistic masked murdered aptly named “The Grinning Man.” What follows is her harrowing, violent journey as she struggles with who she is and protecting the ones she loves. Her internal and external battles kept me fully invested in her well-being. If it weren’t for bad luck, poor Cassandra would have absolutely no luck at all. Honestly, she might have been better off with no luck. By the end, her journey and The Grinning Man had me doing everything EXCEPT grinning.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story although there were some places where I felt some things could be explained better or had been over explained and that kinda threw a hitch in my flow but it wasn’t significant enough for me to feel it should impact my overall opinion of the story. Solid 4.5/5.
October 5, 2026
This new slasher release does NOT need to be overlooked!
As much as I love the classic slasher trope, it makes my horror-loving heart happy when an author puts their own unique twist on it. And this book definitely does that!
The opening scene was incredibly intense. It’s honestly hard to even describe just how dark it felt. We’re immediately introduced to our villain, The Grinning Man, a truly monstrous killer. A group of kids are slaughtered at a summer camp, and we get our final girl. But that’s just the beginning!
Once the real story starts, we discover there’s so much more going on behind The Grinning Man. The characters are all well-developed, but don’t get too attached because NO ONE is safe.
This was unique, fast-paced, bloody, and unpredictable. It kept me guessing, and I loved seeing where the story went. This was my first read by this author, and they absolutely nailed it with this slasher!
As much as I love the classic slasher trope, it makes my horror-loving heart happy when an author puts their own unique twist on it. And this book definitely does that!
The opening scene was incredibly intense. It’s honestly hard to even describe just how dark it felt. We’re immediately introduced to our villain, The Grinning Man, a truly monstrous killer. A group of kids are slaughtered at a summer camp, and we get our final girl. But that’s just the beginning!
Once the real story starts, we discover there’s so much more going on behind The Grinning Man. The characters are all well-developed, but don’t get too attached because NO ONE is safe.
This was unique, fast-paced, bloody, and unpredictable. It kept me guessing, and I loved seeing where the story went. This was my first read by this author, and they absolutely nailed it with this slasher!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a wild, blood-soaked thrill ride! It has all the classic slasher elements you could want, but somehow manages to pack in so much more depth and plot than you’d expect. There is A LOT going on, and it feels like every single page is dripping in blood!
The character development was top-notch, especially considering some characters don’t get much time to stick around—which, let’s be honest, is pretty typical for a slasher. Somehow, the author still manages to make you care about them and feel the impact when things go horribly wrong.
I loved everything about this one: the violence, the gore, the heartbreak, and the sheer terror. And that ending?! Absolutely insane!
This was one hell of a ride, and I loved every bloody minute of it!
The character development was top-notch, especially considering some characters don’t get much time to stick around—which, let’s be honest, is pretty typical for a slasher. Somehow, the author still manages to make you care about them and feel the impact when things go horribly wrong.
I loved everything about this one: the violence, the gore, the heartbreak, and the sheer terror. And that ending?! Absolutely insane!
This was one hell of a ride, and I loved every bloody minute of it!
October 12, 2026
This is a gruesome story. There are no two ways around it. Horribly mutilated men are murdering people in particularly graphic ways beginning at a summer camp for kids. Cassandra, one of the camp counselors, kills one of the murderers and somehow absorbs his psyche.
This could have been just another slasher story but the supernatural aspect adds another dimension to the tale. Cassandra’s story is told in first person point of view while the remaining characters stories are told in third person view. This made the book more compelling to me as it placed me inside Cassandra’s head. It’s a page turner despite the gore.
This could have been just another slasher story but the supernatural aspect adds another dimension to the tale. Cassandra’s story is told in first person point of view while the remaining characters stories are told in third person view. This made the book more compelling to me as it placed me inside Cassandra’s head. It’s a page turner despite the gore.
October 1, 2026
A slasher 80's style with more panache! Matthew brings us Cassie, who we meet as the final girl of the Grinning man, a horrible and brutal slasher. Cassie is terrorized at camp and comes through in true final girl style. But this is only the beginning, as we follow her from that to even more horrors and tragedy thrown at her. It's grisly, fun, and extremely suspenseful. The Grinning Man is a tale for nightmares. Can't wait to see what Matthew has next.
September 8, 2026
“First Blood, Last Girl” by Matthew Doggett is a GREAT slasher story! It was well written and had a refreshing take on the typical slasher formula. The story was a little different than what I expected, and I loved that it kept things interesting. It was just as refreshing as it was disturbing, with plenty of dark and twisted moments. I absolutely loved it!
September 13, 2026
This book was so much more than a slasher.
Don't get me wrong, it works GREAT as a slasher book, but there is an underlying story that brings a lot more depth to the usual trope. There are scary men who love murder, a final girl who has a few tricks up her sleeve, and a story that is going to keep you hooked right until the last page.
Don't get me wrong, it works GREAT as a slasher book, but there is an underlying story that brings a lot more depth to the usual trope. There are scary men who love murder, a final girl who has a few tricks up her sleeve, and a story that is going to keep you hooked right until the last page.
October 2, 2026
Just in time for spooky season. If you like serial killers, suspense, and action this might be the one for you. There is a really great story here along with all the killing. The author doesn't just tell you about what is going on, he explains why the people in the story do what they do. This is a must read for this time of year.
October 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It’s like a slasher film in print: one that starts fast and doesn’t let up. From graphic deaths to the deeper psychology, everything is described well and totally immerses the reader in the author’s world. Definitely a good scare for spooky season.
October 12, 2026
From the first page to the last this was fast paced, bloody, and brutal. A little outside the norm of a typical slasher novel. Matthew does a fantastic job of intertwining supernatural elements into the final girl trope. Check your triggers, opening scene is a little rough.
November 4, 2026
I listened to the audiobook and what a ride! This has similarities, but is also not your usual slasher at the same time. It is horrifying and gory. I wanted to keep listening to see how this would end. I was not disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brilliant & horrifying all at the same time! This really hits the spot! An incredibly well written horror, chilling in it's intensity! I do recommend for all horror connoisseurs!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cassandra survived a night of terror at camp. Now she mist face the terror again. Bloody awesome slasher novel.
October 6, 2026
This was a wild ride! This was a completely new and original take on a final girl summer camp slasher! There were so many action-packed gruesome kills, you didn't know who was going to survive. Any and everyone was expendable, leaving you guessing until the end. It was fast paced and hard to put down.
I greatly enjoyed the complexity Doggett put into making the main characters personable and human, while keeping the gore of a great slasher intact. This book is like nothing you've read before and will not disappoint!
I greatly enjoyed the complexity Doggett put into making the main characters personable and human, while keeping the gore of a great slasher intact. This book is like nothing you've read before and will not disappoint!
September 21, 2026
This was a very interesting spin on the slasher genre. I really enjoyed the idea that our main character could see through the mind of the main villain. There was some sheer brutality in this novel. The way everything was described and how the story played out made it feel very cinematic and I’d love to see it on the big screen someday.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews